Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated from:

Elizabeth MacBride, Kilfinan Community Council

Cowal Transport Forum – 19^th June 2015

The minute of the meeting of the Transport Forum 19 June 2015 was approved as a correct record.

The following was raised from the previous minute:

·         The Area Governance Officer reported back to Fulton McInnes on the progress made into investigating the parking at Western Ferries.

The Performance Manager held a discussion with the Forum on the roads department’s stance on the subject, stating that the roads department are aware there is an issue but there are no formal proposals as yet and suggested that a multi-agency review of the situation should be carried out in conjunction with transport Scotland and Police Scotland, with the findings reported back to a future transport meeting. Gordon Ross assured the Group that Western Ferries had been co-operative in working, specifically with the Police, to resolve issues.

Verbal update by Transport Scotland

Keith Murray from Transport Scotland provided the Forum with a verbal update, the following points were noted:

·         There will be a review of the response plan in connection with the one way system that is currently put in place to deal with road closures.

·         The Group were informed that all issues raised at the last meeting had been raised at the last Taskforce meeting.

·         Keith Murray told the Forum that the new VMS sign for Lochgolihead would be installed within ten days from the meeting and the VMS sign for Strachur should be in place in a months time.

·         Information informing road users of Western Ferries as an alternative route is now included on the sign approaching the A83/A815 junction at Cairndow.

·         A permanent solution for issues surrounding the Rest and Be Thankful is still ongoing with several options  being looked at.

Verbal update by Argyll Ferries and Western Ferries representatives.

Argyll Ferries

A representative from Argyll Ferries was not present at the meeting, however Simon Richmond from Caledonian MacBrayne dealt with a query raised by Willie Lynch on the lack of public consultation sessions being held in Dunoon and agreed to look at holding sessions in the area.

Western Ferries

Gordon Ross from Western Ferries provided the Forum with the following verbal update:

·         Cowal Games weekend went very smoothly from a ferry point of view.

·         Gordon Ross took the Group through the background to an incident that took place in August resulting in several road closures which had a significant impact on ferry traffic causing large queues at Hunters Quay, Gordon felt the handling of the situation by Western Ferries and the Police was very good.

·         Gordon Ross inquired as to whether a timescale had been put in place for the closure and proposed works to the Queens Hall and whether this would result in any parts of Argyll Street being closes. The Area Governance Officer agreed to feedback this query to the Chord Project Manager and come back to the Forum with any information.

Verbal update by Caledonian MacBrayne representative.

Simon Richmond from Caledonian MacBrayne provided the Forum with a verbal update on the Wemyss Bay closure. The following points were noted:

·         It was noted that work is currently ongoing, with the next phase being the closure of the pier, which will result in sailings from Rothesay temporarily coming into Gourock.

·         There will be no change to the Argyll Ferries timetable.

·         A joint ticketing agreement in principal with Western Ferries

·         Signage will be adjusted accordingly.

·         Disruption likely until March 2016.

Verbal update by Caledonian MacBrayne Representative.

Simon Richmond from Caledonian MacBrayne provided the Forum with a verbal update on the Colintraive to Rhubodach Ferry Timetable. The following was noted:

·         It was noted that sailings will now move to half hourly which will simplify the timetable.

·         Replacement slips should be installed next year.

·         Current bus timetables to be tweaked to meet the ferries per the new ferry timetable.

Verbal update by Public Transport Officer.

Verbal update by Public Transport Officer.

The Community Transport Officer informed the Group that the Bus turning circle will be available for use from October onwards and told the Forum that it was thanks to funding from SPT and Transport Scotland that the Bus turning circle has been made possible.

Verbal update by Strachur Community Council and the Public Transport Officer.

The Community Transport Officer along with representatives from Strachur Community Council held a discussion surrounding the Strachur Bus Route with the following noted:

·         Proposals are in place to divert the Strachur buses via ardenslate but the Community Transport Officer stressed that this not happening yet and is a proposal which is currently subject of a consultation.

·         A concern was raised from Strachur Community Council regarding an incident of children having to get of the school bus and onto the Carrick bus due to the bus being occupied by fare paying passengers. The Community Transport Officer commented that it is a school route so pupils should have priority over other users.  He agreed to take this item away and look into it.

Verbal update by Police Scotland representative.

Sergeant John Forrest provided the Forum with a statistical breakdown from Police Scotland, with the following points noted:

·         Cowal Games – no road policy issues were identified and the traffic plan didn’t require implementation.

·         A further explanation was given to the Forum from a policing perspective regarding the issues surrounding the overflow of traffic at Western Ferries in August. Sergeant Forrest explained that the required resources were not available to implement the one way traffic system at Western Ferries due to resources being deployed elsewhere to deal with other road related incidents.

·         Police Scotland are currently addressing speeding concerns raised by Community Councils.

·         The Group were informed that BEAR Scotland would be doing a briefing day regarding the incident at Ardbeg.

Update by Scottish Fire and Rescue Representative.

Martin Hill form Scottish Fire and Rescue provided the Forum with a brief verbal update informing the Group that Scottish Fire and Rescue were continuing to carry out road safety initiatives which included a cut it out initiative aimed at younger drivers. Martin also informed the Group that he would be bringing Scottish Fire and Rescues revised strategy to the next meeting.

A conversation was held between the Forum and the Road’s Performance Manager regarding various damaged or old street and road signs of which the Road’s Performance Manager undertook to look into.

Friday 4^th December 2015, 10am, Castle House, Dunoon

The next Cowal Transport Forum will be held on Friday 4^th December 2015 at 10am in Castle House, Dunoon.